Today is the last day to register for the "Pension Boot Camp" aimed at arming elected officials with specific ways to address California's unfunded pension obligations facing the state and local municipalities.

The intention is to fully diagnose the issue and offer elected officials and event attendees workable solutions that can be enacted. The event has already taken some heat from local union leaders who liken it to a union hate fest, but the aim is really to promote solutions and stress urgency in reforming the system. Of course, some of the solution is not going to set well with union bosses because it will bring union benefits down to more fair and equitable levels, but addressing these issues is long overdue and will be painful.

For more information on the event visit www.californiapensionreform.com.

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) has entered the legal fray surrounding the 2002 retroactive pension increase bestowed on public-safety workers in Orange County by the Board of Supervisors.

The current supes have already challenged the retroactive increase and PLF, in conjunction with a local watchdog group the Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers (FACT), filed a legal brief in support of the lawsuit.

"Orange County officials were flagrantly irresponsible when they raised pension benefits for service that had already been completed under previously agreed-on contract provisions," said FACT President Jack Dean. "The requirement for voter approval was meant to thwart this kind of political recklessness with taxpayers' money."

"The California Constitution says local governments can't encumber taxpayers with long-term public debts or liabilities without asking voters' approval," said PLF attorney Harold Johnson. "Orange County politicians ignored this voter-rights guarantee when they pushed through the retroactive pension windfall. The moment it came on line it threw a $100 million burden on taxpayers' backs – and, by some estimates, that amount has more than doubled by now. Taxpayers are forced to pay off this liability over a number of years, as the lucky employees retire and start pulling down their enhanced pension goodies. Bottom line: When you're talking about a long-term financial liability and taxpayers are on the hook to pay, the Constitution says taxpayers have the final say."

The lawsuit is arguably the most important pension reform issue facing the county and, if it is successful, it will have national reverberations. Let's hope it has legs.

It's early but Shawn Nelson, the Register's pick for Orange County supervisor for the 4th district, is ahead in the polls with absintee ballots showing. Here is the break down from the county registrar: